Semester Schedule
The schedule will be flexible as we cover each topic. We might spend some extra time on topics, so we will update the schedule as we progress through the semester.
| Mtg | Date | Topic | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 01/13/2025 | History of the Game Industry Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 01/15/2025 | What is a game? Readings & Resources: What is a game? - McGonigal Ch.1 Slides: PDF | |
| Fri | 01/17/2025 | Game Design Kits Lab | |
| 01/20/2025 | MLK Holiday | ||
| Wed | 01/22/2025 | Game Design Kits Lab (play time!) Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics Readings & Resources: MDA Paper - MDA Slides: PDF | |
| Fri | 01/24/2025 | Mechanics, Dynamics, Aesthetics Formal Elements of Games Readings & Resources: Fullerton Ch.2 - Extra Credits Video Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 01/27/2025 | Formal Elements of Games Readings & Resources: Fullerton Ch.2 Slides: PDF | Add deadline |
| Wed | 01/29/2025 | Let's play! (game day) Readings & Resources: Fullerton Ch.3 | |
| Fri | 01/31/2025 | The Game Loop Slides: PDF | Critical Analysis 1 (I) |
| Mon | 02/03/2025 | Pico-8, The Game Loop, Procedures vs Rules Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 02/05/2025 | Procedures vs Rules Slides: PDF | |
| Fri | 02/07/2025 | Procedures v Rules, Sprite Graphics Supplements: Extra Credits: Depth vs Complexity - Extra Credits: Graphics vs Aesthetics Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 02/10/2025 | Sprite Graphics Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 02/12/2025 | Games (snow day) | |
| Fri | 02/14/2025 | Physics Readings & Resources: SF2 Hit Boxes Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 02/17/2025 | Collision Detection Readings & Resources: SF2 Hit Boxes Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 02/19/2025 | Collision Detection, Game AI Supplements: Extra Credits Video Slides: PDF | |
| Fri | 02/21/2025 | Game AI Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 02/24/2025 | Game AI, Pathfinding Slides: PDF | Drop deadline |
| Wed | 02/26/2025 | Let's play! (game day) | |
| Fri | 02/28/2025 | Unity Readings & Resources: Unity Tutorial | Critical Analysis 2 (I) |
| Mon | 03/03/2025 | Game AI Slides: PDF | |
| 03/05/2025 | Mini-Boss Battle (Midterm) | ||
| Fri | 03/07/2025 | Game Architectures Slides: PDF | PICO-8 Game (I) |
| 03/10/2025 | Spring Break | ||
| 03/12/2025 | Spring Break | ||
| 03/14/2025 | Spring Break | ||
| Mon | 03/17/2025 | Game Architectures Readings & Resources: Unity Tutorial (YouTube) - Unity Tutorial (Mira) Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 03/19/2025 | World Building Readings & Resources: Extra Credits: The Magic Circle Slides: PDF | Team Declaration (T) |
| Fri | 03/21/2025 | World Building, Game Ideas Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 03/24/2025 | The Quiet Year Readings & Resources: Extra Credits: Board Games | |
| Wed | 03/26/2025 | The Quiet Year (part 2) | Game Design Document (T) |
| Fri | 03/28/2025 | Prototyping Readings & Resources: Fullerton Ch.7 Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 03/31/2025 | Prototyping/Physical Prototypes | |
| Wed | 04/02/2025 | Physical Prototype Demos | Physical Prototype (T) before class |
| Fri | 04/04/2025 | Character Design Readings & Resources: Extra Credits: Myers Briggs Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 04/07/2025 | Character and Level Design Readings & Resources: Devs Play Doom Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 04/09/2025 | Level Design Readings & Resources: Devs Play Doom - Nintendo Power Magazine Slides: PDF | Unity Game (I) |
| Fri | 04/11/2025 | Level Design Readings & Resources: SMB 1-1 Slides: PDF | |
| Mon | 04/14/2025 | Game Balancing Readings & Resources: Extra Credits: Perfect Imbalance Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 04/16/2025 | Game Balancing Readings & Resources: Extra Credits: First Moves Slides: PDF | |
| Fri | 04/18/2025 | Guest Speaker: David Wert - Indie Game Development | |
| Mon | 04/21/2025 | Playtesting Slides: PDF | |
| Wed | 04/23/2025 | Playtesting in Class | Working Game Demo (T) before class |
| Fri | 04/25/2025 | Team Game Workday with TA Support | |
| Mon | 04/28/2025 | Game Expo | Final Team Game (T) |
| 05/05/2024 | Final Boss Battle (Final Exam) 2-5pm |